PHILIPPE Saint-Andre is hoping his Sale Sharks players will be on cloud nine after their Heineken Cup double-header against Montauban which kicks-off at Edgeley Park tomorrow night.

Sale will resume their European campaign on the back of encouraging league wins against Guinness Premiership heavyweights Wasps and Leicester.

The Sharks currently lie in second place in what has been termed the Heineken Cup's group of death, but if they are to put any pressure on leaders Munster, director of rugby Saint-Andre says his players should look to take nine points from their next two games.

"It's a big, big game on Friday and we want to build on the momentum of the way we played against Leicester, especially in the first half," said Saint-Andre.

"We need two wins but if we could get nine points it would be nice. And if we can beat Montauban this Friday then they are completely out of the competition so their focus may not be the same when we go to France to play them next week.

"However, my players and I will not underestimate Montauban.

"They very nearly beat Munster away in their opening pool match, they beat Clermont Auvergne away in the French League and have been one of the top six sides in the French League for the past two years. They are a very consistent team, well trained and they play good rugby.

"But we have had two good wins against Wasps and Leicester in five days.

"It's very, very difficult to sustain a challenge in both competitions and that is one of the reasons why we adopted the approach we took to the EDF Energy Cup in playing a lot of our younger guys," Saint Andre added.

"Some people didn't understand why we did that and I took a lot of blame for the policy.

"But if people look where we are now, they will see we have had six wins in eight games in the Guinness Premiership, and in the Heineken Cup, if we can win these next two games, we will set up a virtual quarter-final when we go to play Munster in January.

"We are in good form and by the time January comes around we will then have Chris Jones, Lee Thomas, Sebastien Bruno all fit again."

England prop Andrew Sheridan will be in the 22 while Andy Tuilagi will start at centre with Mathew Tait starting on the bench as he nurses his hamstring.

Welsh star Dwayne Peel (pictured) will also get the nod at nine with Richard Wigglesworth rotated to the bench.